At this time of year, lots of folks feel the urge to start spring cleaning — refreshing and clearing out their home to greet the new season. However, just when the weather is (hopefully) getting nicer, you may feel trapped indoors due to all the tasks you have to take care of. How can you manage to get your spring cleaning done while staying serene?

Here are 13 suggestions.

Break the job down. It’s all too easy to lump together three different categories — actual washing and scrubbing, decluttering, and seasonal home maintenance – under the label “spring cleaning.” However, this can make the work ahead of you feel overwhelming.

Develop a realistic spring cleaning plan for your living situation and needs. If you tend to get discouraged easily by the state of your housekeeping, look for areas of your home that you feel comfortable with and decide what works.

Prioritize projects that will keep your family safe. A good place to start is by checking your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. (And, please, if you do…………… continues on Care2.com